Fire and Rain Conversation Series: Recent Episodes
Rachel Lopes and Emma Ashton
A series designed to inform and empower bushfire-prone communities to live safely with fire. Hosted by Emma Ashton and Rachel Lopes based in the Otways town of Forrest, Victoria, Australia. What does it take to build a bushfire-adapted community? What do you focus on? What do you need to know and do to be prepared and make good decisions as an individual, household and community? We talk to the leaders in thinking and doing - share the latest science, ancient traditional knowledge and on-ground expertise, to help transform personal and community thinking about how we live and thrive amongst fire.For bushfire-prone communities, agency executives, directors, community leaders, inspired individuals and change makers.
Community education was a key recommendation in this year's Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. In this episode, Jamie McKenzie, Director of Red Flag Leadership Solutions and Lyn Harwood, Community Leader at Mallacoota and Gypsy Point talk through their experiences of bushfire events and provide helpful advice on how to best prepare your community.
Imagine how resilient Australian families would be if it was mandatory to learn about fire and bushfire in every primary school. This is Emma's passion and in this episode, we speak with Dr Briony Towers, specialist in child-centred disaster risk reduction and school-based disaster resilience education and Kaz Standish at Forrest Primary School to find out more.
Bushfire and emergencies are often chaotic! Sarah Rowbottam of the Arts House/Refuge Project and Gillian Brew of Studio Forrest explain why art and artists are an important component of all facets of emergency management (planning, living through an event and recovery)
If we considered fire in the landscape much like we consider rain or wind, how would that change our thinking?
Dr Kevin Tolhurst, Fire Ecologist and expert on fire behaviour and suppression strategies along with Tim Gazzard, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) share their thoughts on the role of fire, and how we as community members need to play our part.
As small business owners, what do you need to know and do differently to prepare for a bushfire, or any emergency! Renae Hanvin, Founder of corporate2community and Sharon Bradshaw, Co-Owner of the Forrest Brewery share their savvy advice and top tips.
We're all so different! What personality traits and skills might best enable us to cope with a bushfire, or any emergency? In this episode, we hear the latest research and get expert advice from experienced practitioners
The 2019/20 summer of bushfires in Australia was the worst on record. What is it like to live through a bushfire and how do you possibly get on with life afterwards?
Roy Moriarty - Wye River resident and Captain of the CFA for 20+ years.
Yvonne Shepphard - Wye River resident for over 20 years.
Emma Danby - Mallacoota resident at the time of the 2019/2020 fires.
Australia's people and landscape have co-existed with fire for thousands of years. How? What can we learn from our Nation's First People to help us re-connect with fire, with the landscape and with each other?
John Clarke - Kirrae Wurrung man and General Manager of Cultural Landscapes at Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation
Jack Pascoe - Yuin man, fire practioner and Research Manager at the Conservation Ecology Centre, Cape Otway.
What does the future hold for bushfire prone communities? What are the risks and how has thinking around bushfire management changed over time? As experts in their field, we ask Robert and Justin what they recommend we do now to build our resilience.
Dr Robert Glasser – Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist (Former Head of the UN Office of Disaster Risk Reduction and current fellow of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute).
Dr Justin Leonard – Specialist in Bushfire-proof home design. (Research Leader and Specialist in Bushfire Urban Design at CSIRO).